Wisdom: The Mini Series.Part 1 - Wisdom, She is Beautiful

Semi-Organised thoughts on Proverbs

Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are a couple of my favorite books from the OT; one appears full of questions and the other appears full of answers, but both a fantastic reference point for thoughts, decisions, motives, and actions.

Proverbs particularly paints this most incredible metaphor for wisdom. Were it not for the whole “all scripture breathed and inspired by God” thing, Solomon could take credit for some really genius wordsmithing here. What I’ve observed about what Solomon has done in Proverbs is that he’s created Wisdom as metaphor for a character, as a figure, a person we can pursue, culture a relationship with, journey with. Solomon was wise enough to know what sort of person this metaphor needed to be – A woman!

Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares, at the head of noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech….
Blessed is the man who finds Wisdom, the man who gains understanding for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, those who lay hold of her will be blessed….
Esteem her and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

A great picture of the nature of Wisdom. Maybe men need Wisdom most because men end up doing a lot of stuff that requires wisdom (I’m not going down any anti-womens-lib path here, bear with me). Women are gentle and kind and smart. Men are generally stupid. If Solomon painted a picture that Wisdom was a woman, then we might be more inclined to chase after her. Maybe Solomon knew that man needs Wisdom, in the same way man needs a wife, and, like marriage, Wisdom’s true power is not be fully realized unless a relationship is cultured. The picture he paints of her is desirable, like a wife who honors her husband. And when he loves and honors and respects her he gets back far more than he ever put in. Women are a great investment.

In Proverbs we read “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD” and also “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom…” Finding implies looking, searching, with purpose. Chances are that neither wisdom nor wife is going to knock on our front door in a state ready for the taking. You gotta hunt both down and grab hold of them. Not in the literal sense, but in the metaphorical sense, seeking God, guided by voices, searching for the things to put in your heart. Then when the right opportunity comes, when Wisdom (or wife) presents itself, then you are ready.

Get Wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake Wisdom and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get Wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Strong words don’t you think? A most earnest recommendation born out of experience, out of a knowledge that you cannot live without this stuff, that if you don’t have it adultery, folly and foolishness will come your way, and they will come your way in Part 2.